Women seeking the right to vote can be traced back to the beginning of our country. However, it wasn't until 1848, at a women’s convention in Seneca Falls, New York, that the suffrage movement got legs. Meeting attendees issued a declaration of women’s rights, which included women’s suffrage. For the next seventy-two years, women across America assembled, marched, petitioned and never gave up on advancing the cause for voting rights. Talk about determination! Finally, on June 4, 1919, the Senate passed the Nineteenth Amendment and suffragists began a state by state ratification campaign. Pennsylvania was the 7th state to ratify the amendment on June 24, 1919. Hooray for PA! It then took over a year to obtain the 36 votes needed for final ratification. The 19th Amendment became law on August 18, 1920.
We are grateful for the resolve of the suffragists and honor them in our celebration of the 100th Anniversary of Women's Right to Vote. Join us!
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Celebrating Women
During this celebratory year, organizations and businesses across Pennsylvania’s Americana Region are joining forces to present an array of centennial festivities that highlight the accomplishments of women. With the help of Celebration of Women in the Arts and Berks Suffrage 2020 Centennial, we have compiled monthly listings of events honoring women.
Suffrage Images Courtesy of:
Women’s Suffrage Centennial Resource Toolkit
National Archives
Library of Congress
National Women’s History Museum
Womans Suffrage Memorabilia
Celebrate Women in March
March 6 – The Diary of Anne Frank | Steel River Playhouse
March 7 – Reading Symphony Orchestra: Blue Cathedral
March 8 – Luna Fest | Albright College
March 8 – Opus One: A Celebration of Women
March 10 – Pennsylvania’s Justice Bell arrives at Berks History Center
March 11 – Alvernia University Arts Series Presents Germaine Ingram & The Red Rose Collective
March 14 – System Shakers, Barrier Breakers:The Suffragists | Berks History Center – CANCELLED
March 14 – The Music of Nina Simone | WCR
March 14 – Reading Choral Society Spring Sing: Celebration of Women 2020
March 21 – Kelly Powers Trio | Berks Jazz Fest
March 27 – Berks Jazz Fest Launches
March 31 – Melissa Etheridge | Santander Performing Arts Center
Through May 24 – Rising Voices: The Bennett Prize® for Women Figurative Realist Painters
Celebrate Women in April
April 4 – 5th Annual Berks History Conference – Women’s History & the Suffrage Movement in Berks
Through May 24 – Rising Voices: The Bennett Prize® for Women Figurative Realist Painters
Celebrate Women in February
February 1 – 7: SWEAT at Genesius Theatre
February 1 – 15: Fun Home – A Musical at Steel River Playhouse
February 4 – Alvernia University Arts Series Presents Jill Haley
February 5 – KU Presents: Dance Theater of Harlem
February 22 – Rising Voices: The Bennett Prize® for Women Figurative Realist Painters (exhibit closes May 24)
February 22, 23 & 24 – 5-Minute Fringe Festival: Finding Home
February 23 – Berks Youth Chorus: Caberet Concert
February 23 – Reading Pops: Five Play
February 25 – KU Presents: Apollo’s Fire
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